In January we launched the new professional development guide that introduces a learning topic each month in 2022. This month’s topic is ‘Celebrate Teams’ which focuses on recognizing and appreciating differing perspectives. In February, we celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans during Black History Month. Let this be a time to appreciate our diverse Missouri workforce as well!

Research, such as McKinsey's Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters and INC's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are Good for Business, show that having a diverse and inclusive workplace is a key element in high performance teams. Diversity and inclusion contributes to a sense of belonging for team members. In fact, Our QPS results reinforced the research by showing team members who feel they belong at the State of Missouri provide excellent service to citizens.

There is high value in diverse teams, but psychological safety must be present. Psychological safety is a shared belief amongst a team that they can be exactly who they are in the workplace, without fear of criticism or retribution. This means team members feel safe taking risks, sharing their thoughts, and asking questions without judgment. This month, in your ENGAGE conversation, consider discussing your team's psychological safety. The questions below can help kick off the conversation.

If you want to learn more about the importance of supporting our diverse workforce, check out this video from the Leadership Academy Diversity and Inclusion capstone group.

You can find all of this months learning opportunities on LinkedIn! Follow this link to start the Learning Path today!

The new 2022 Learning Framework was developed by State team members, for State team members. Each month, we will highlight a new topic, one directly related to The Missouri Way Training Series. These trainings, along with ENGAGE conversation topics, live educational opportunities, and additional learning resources, are combined into one comprehensive package.

While participation is optional, our goal is to provide just the right amount of education so supervisors can meet their LDR goals, and all team members can meet their individual educational goals.